The announcement prompted a vicious backlash from critics of the 53-year-old, with one Twitter user branding her a "disgusting w***e", mocking her past dependency on drugs and urging her to kill herself.

Welch responded by saying: "How proud your parents must be of you... Please stop being horrible to people you don't know. You'll be much happier... By the way, my work have reported you to the police and they've traced you. Have a good day."

However, Welch assured fans that she would not be brought down by the behavior of others.

"It's a shame that just a few horrible and evil faceless tweeters write such vile things," she told The Mirror. "I'm made of stern stuff so I will be fine."